Game Thread: Twins v Tigers, 4/26 @ 1:10pm CT

[Squirrel]

Game-time forecast: Mostly cloudy. Winds blowing in from left field at 10-20 m.p.h. Temperature around 50. 0% PoP.

 

Tigers:

SP, Sanchez

 

Kinsler 2B

Hunter RF

Cabrera 1B

Martinez DH

Jackson CF

Castellanos 3B

Romine SS

Holaday C

Davis LF

 

Twins:

SP, Hughes

 

Dozier 2B

Mauer DH

Plouffe 3B

Colabello 1B

Kubel LF

Pinto C

Fuld RF

Hicks CF

Escobar SS

 

----------------------------

 

And now for the entertainment portion of our regularly scheduled program, just after these messages ... (okay, there are no messages, but check back later for Brian's musings).

 

--------------------------------------------------------

 

(Camel Walking around) What day is it? What Day is it?

ChiTown: Umm... It's Saturday

(Camel Leaves)

 

Things to think about:

 

1. Sam Fuld -- Gardy seems to like his new toy... Why Not? Fuld is stroking the ball. I'd keep playing with it.

 

2. Offense -- Offense Stomp Stomp... Offense Stomp Stomp... Ok forget about pitching and defense... It's a whole new world... Let's just try and out slug them with Plouffe, Colabello, Kubel, Pinto, Suzuki and Fuld.

 

3. Pitching -- BUT WE CAN'T FORGET ABOUT PITCHING... We got to start get better starting pitching. We are hitting well enough to be 25 and 3 right now.

 

4. That Inning Again -- With props to Stringer for his eloquent phrasing ... Phil Hughes has been good more often than he has been bad. Each game has seen one bad inning and one bad inning alone. Let's hope we don't see "THAT INNING" today.

 

5. A question... Why is that people who know the least... know it the loudest?

[Craig Arko]

Speaking of entertainment, I predict you will get a kick out of this:

 

[Squirrel]

I saw that one! Honestly, being a string player, that really takes some skill to pull off!

[Craig Arko]

I'd love to see them do something with Peter Schickele.

[stringer bell]

On the bus to the game. It is clear and 55 in Rochester. I hope this weather holds.

[jokin]

I'd love to see them do something with Peter Schickele.

 

Is PDQ Bach still performing?

[Craig Arko]

Is PDQ Bach still performing?

 

Yup.

 

http://www.schickele.com

[Squirrel]

On the bus to the game. It is clear and 55 in Rochester. I hope this weather holds.

 

It should ... according to my forecast.

[PseudoSABR]

Let's hope that the Tigers quick hook of Porcello pays dividends with an overworked bullpen--but that means knocking a starter out before the eighth...

[sampleSizeOfOne]

Speaking of entertainment, I predict you will get a kick out of this:

 

 

Great, now i got mack the knife stuck in my head. And i'm wondering why players don't have more interesting knick-knames...

[stringer bell]

I have had "Hurricane" going through my head for a week.

[stringer bell]

Low 50s and partly cloudy. A nice enough day at Target Field.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I have had "Hurricane" going through my head for a week.

 

A week, you say? Sorry for complaining so soon then...

[Circus Boy]

Stuck at work, but the boss -- me -- sez it's OK to doodle with the interwebs. So everyone please do that voodoo that you do so well.

[ashbury]

I saw that one! Honestly, being a string player, that really takes some skill to pull off!

 

Not being a string player would take even more skill to pull off.

[Guest USAFChief]

The throw to nobody allowed Cabrera to move up a base and cost a run (pending Jackson's AB).

[jokin]

Speaking of entertainment, I predict you will get a kick out of this:

 

 

I was kind-of hoping they would have dopped on a sparkly layer of lipstick, with Robert Palmer popping out from stage left, and gone all-in on an orchestral arrangement of "Simply Irresistible".

 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

The throw to nobody allowed Cabrera to move up a base and cost a run (pending Jackson's AB).

 

True. Though how close did he come to makin' the catch? (was slightly distracted at the moment it happened, but was under the impression it was close...)

 

Anyway, i really hope we can make up two runs. Especially now that we're at bat.

[notoriousgod71]

Grampa Plouffe!

[Guest USAFChief]

Low 50s and partly cloudy. A nice enough day at Target Field.

Where ya sitting?

[Guest USAFChief]

True. Though how close did he come to makin' the catch? (was slightly distracted at the moment it happened, but was under the impression it was close...)

 

Anyway, i really hope we can make up two runs. Especially now that we're at bat.

It went off the heel of his glove...he actually jumped to high.

[longstrangetrip]

Okay, a much better inning for Hughsey in the second, but man, these poor starts are getting to me. I'm starting to think Hughes' problem wasn't the dimensions in Yankee Stadium, it's belt high fastballs over the plate. Anybody else wince when he served up that fat pitch to Miggy... I'm stunned it stayed in the park.

[longstrangetrip]

I don't think Pinto's high walk rate is an aberration. You don't often see young power hitters with such an extraordinary ability to lay off breaking pitches out of the zone. At some point Gardy's going to have to protect him with a better hitter behind him...then, those walks are going to become extra base hits as he starts to see more fastballs.

[stringer bell]

Where ya sitting?

Sitting upstairs by the retired numbers. That by the left field foul pole.

[Gibby]

Okay, a much better inning for Hughsey in the second, but man, these poor starts are getting to me. I'm starting to think Hughes' problem wasn't the dimensions in Yankee Stadium, it's belt high fastballs over the plate. Anybody else wince when he served up that fat pitch to Miggy... I'm stunned it stayed in the park.

 

At least there are some other variables that are making the team watchable. It makes it easier for me to be patient with some pitchers I pray will produce...."At the Major League Level"... Drink.

[70charger]

I'm liking the way his curve ball has looked in the couple times I've seen it. Big break, and he got a nasty strike two on the first batter.

[longstrangetrip]

I'm with ya, Gibby. My patience level is much higher with the addition of Colabello and Pinto to the lineup, along with the improvement of Plouffe. And fun to see that Kohl Stewart was so dominant last night.

[Gibby]

Do you own that sweet ride 70charger?

[longstrangetrip]

I'm liking the way his curve ball has looked in the couple times I've seen it. Big break, and he got a nasty strike two on the first batter.

 

Agreed, very sharp last two innings, and his breaking ball is the reason. I think the Yanks gave up on him because they didn't think he could command his curve ball...let's hope they were wrong.

[Gibby]

I'm with ya, Gibby. My patience level is much higher with the addition of Colabello and Pinto to the lineup, along with the improvement of Plouffe. And fun to see that Kohl Stewart was so dominant last night.

 

Yep, I'd add Dozier to that list as well. I love that guy.